The growth of a baby is always accompanied by bumps and bruises, and parents need to encourage their baby’s exploration activities, but also to escort their baby’s safety. It is inevitable that your child will have bumps and bruises, some of which can heal on their own, while others require prompt medical attention. Old people often say “fall, grow fast”, but improper disposal may bring secondary damage to the child. So, what should mothers do when their babies break bones?
Fractures are divided into open fractures and closed fractures. An open fracture means that the broken end of the bone has been exposed outside the skin; a closed fracture means that the skin is intact and undamaged, and these fractures often occur and are often easily overlooked, delaying treatment.
After a baby’s trauma, parents can lightly touch the injured body part, once touching will cause the baby to cry violently, refuse to touch, have an abnormally painful expression, and the movement of the injured joint is restricted, and the injured body part appears swollen, or has abnormal folding, bulging, bruising, bruising, etc., which can be initially judged as having a fracture.
Once the baby is suspected of fracture or dislocation, parents should try to reduce the movement of the injured body part to avoid neurovascular damage caused by fracture and dislocation. Use sterile gauze to compress the wound to stop bleeding, and cover the wound with sterile gauze. Take local materials, you can use hardwood sheets or magazines to temporarily fix the ends of the fracture to prevent further injury. Parents should take their child to the doctor first after doing all these emergency treatments.
The following are some common methods of fixation for fractures.
Upper arm fracture above the elbow joint: the length of the splint used for fixation should be from the shoulder to the elbow joint, and then put on the upper chest after wrapping. If you cannot find the fixation material for a while, you can also tie the upper arm together with a belt or cloth strap to the forehead and cut a small hole in the lapel of this side of the injured limb, fold the lapel back upwards, pocket the injured arm and then fasten it on the first or second button.
Thigh fracture: a splint equivalent to the length from the heel to the armpit can be placed on the outside of the injured limb, slightly padded clothes after the knee, and then the injured limb and splint together with cloth straps to bind the splint. Cloth belt and other fixed materials can be taken locally, boards, branches, bamboo poles, sticks, cardboard, umbrellas, belts, clothing, etc. can be. If there are no appropriate materials, the legs can be wrapped together and the uninjured leg can be used to fix the injured leg.
Calf fracture: The fixation method is similar to that of the thigh, except that the length of the splint only needs to be from above the knee to the foot. It is important to note that children with leg fractures, if you can only transport them to the hospital on your own, should first try to immobilize the affected limb to avoid aggravating the injury during transport due to movement of the broken bone.
Vertebral fractures: When a child may have a cervical or thoracic fracture, do not try to move his or her body by yourself. If a person picks up and moves the child, the broken bone may damage the spinal cord. The injured person should be gently lifted by 3 – 4 people, keeping the spine in a horizontal position, and placed gently on a hard stretcher or bed board. Bystanders should immediately call the 120 emergency number. In the process of waiting for the arrival of ambulance personnel, if the child is found to be seriously injured, unconscious or in shock, artificial respiration should be performed immediately to ensure the child’s life.
How to care for a baby with a fracture.
1. Rest and observation
If a baby has a fracture, even if it is an upper limb fracture, it should rest in bed for 3-7 days, which is good for the fixation and rehabilitation of the fracture site. If the doctor fixes the baby with a cast, parents should closely observe whether the temperature and sensation of the baby’s limbs and body are normal, whether the skin color is rosy, and whether the limbs can stretch and move. If the baby’s limbs are found to be swollen, cold or numb, and the skin is pale, bruised or unable to move, the baby should be taken to the hospital for a review immediately.
2.Strengthen nutrition
When a baby has a fracture, it should be supplemented with rich protein, vitamins and minerals. At the beginning of the fracture, the baby’s appetite will be poor, so light and easily digestible food should be arranged, such as giving the baby some fish soup, meat soup and egg soup. As the baby recovers, the appetite will gradually improve, and protein-rich foods, such as lean meat, fish, eggs and soybean products, should be added appropriately. Minerals and vitamins are also important for the recovery of fractures. Babies should be encouraged to eat more calcium and vitamin-rich foods, such as milk, soybean products, fresh vegetables and fruits, etc.
Warm tip: If the baby is prone to repeated fractures, parents should pay attention to the presence of other diseases, such as endocrine disorders and bone abnormalities. And they should provide the corresponding medical history to the doctor in time for early diagnosis and treatment.
3.Cautions after plaster fixation.
(1) After the cast is fixed, parents should pay attention to help the baby protect the cast from breaking, falling off and getting wet.
(2) The fractured limb can be elevated with pillows and towels, the height of which can slightly exceed the horizontal position of the baby’s heart when lying down, which is conducive to the return of venous blood flow, reducing the swelling and pain of the injured part and promoting the healing of the fracture.
(3) Early functional exercises should be done on the baby’s fractured limb with the help of professionals.
(4) After removal of the cast, the limb and joint movement is limited, which is a normal phenomenon, mainly due to the reduced activity of the fractured limb and muscle atrophy. After a period of functional exercise, it will generally return to normal.